The announcement of £48million under the Ultra Low Emissions Bus Scheme highlights the challenge for operators of how to adapt their depot systems to cater for an increasing proportion of electric buses. Zenobe Energy is one of the companies which has emerged in the sector to provide specialist battery and financing expertise to enable operators to make the transition.

Zenobē has recently completed its first project for storage and charging infrastructure for Stagecoach’s new electric fleet operating the Guildford park-and-ride. An upgrade of the onsite electric supply was threatening the viability of the electrification project since it would take 12 months to complete, and Stagecoach said it may have to move its operating centre at some point in the park-and-ride contract. Zenobē’s solution was to supply a stationary battery on site which incorporates a charging system that was installed within six weeks alongside a funding arrangement.